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As expected, Germany stepped up a gear against Netherlands after slogging to a win over Portugal in their opening group game and, as many predicted, they top Group B. But even six points from two games doesn't guarantee progress to the quarter-finals for Joachim Low's team, and they wrap up group proceedings against a Denmark side that has already sprung a surprise with a 1-0 win against the Dutch (although were indebted to a medley of misses).

If the Germans play as they did for most of their game against Bert van Marwijk's under-achievers, they should have few worries about securing the point they need. After the plod against Portugal, the win over Netherlands indicated that the fluent attacking football that has become a German hallmark was on its way back. Mezut Ozil, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Thomas Muller prompted and pressed as the Dutch - admittedly sometimes underwhelming in the challenge - floundered.
And at the cutting edge of all that was the country's unexpected man of the moment. There were media grumblings when Low selected Mario Gomez for the Portugal game - grumblings that were silenced by a majestic headed winner and buried altogether by two more fine finishes against Netherlands. It has been a golden week for a striker who has sometimes struggled to bring his club confidence to the international stage.
The Germans have apparently assured their Dutch counterparts that they will be going all out to win (Van Marwijk and the gang have to hope for that, and to beat Portugal by two or more goals). German fans already revelling in their victory over the Oranje may well be enjoying, even more, the fact that their bitterest rivals desperately want - and need - them to win.
But Morten Olsen's Denmark have every incentive to stop them: win and they have a great chance of going through. They can count themselves a little unfortunate not to have four points - Nicklas Bendtner and his controversial pants looked to have rescued a draw from two down against Portugal, for whom the perennially posturing Ronaldo suffered an in no way amusing nightmare in front of goal, only for Silvestre Varela to thrash in a late winner.
The Bendtner brace, though, threatened to gloss over the fact that Denmark just don't look very comfortable or happy in defence. The clean sheet against Netherlands was deceptive: few opponents will manufacture that many chances and fail to take any of them.
With the likes of Ozil and Schweinsteiger pulling the strings, the Danes are unlikely to keep Germany out - and that means much will come down to whether Bendtner, never a man for underselling himself, Michael Krohn-Dehli and Christian Eriksen can capitalise on the chances they get to open up the German defence. If they can, there might be a very interesting finale in the Group of Death - the Hammer Horror film that never was - to look forward to.
Denmark player to watch: Nicklas Bendtner. The two-goal star of what ultimately turned out to be a disappointing show last time out, the striker who has so often bigged himself up has the opportunity to make a decisive impact when it really matters. It's unclear what his underwear plans are.
Germany player to watch: Mario Gomez. Well, who else? His star has been in the ascendancy ever since, with substitution imminent, he won the game against Portugal. His first goal against Netherlands was taken with a level of aplomb that told of the confidence injection that brought.
Key battle: Daniel Agger v Mario Gomez. Nobody needs reminding of what a good centre-back Agger is, and how he deals with the tournament's joint top scorer will have a significant bearing on Denmark's chances of keeping Germany at bay.
Stat: Denmark haven't lost in their last three games against the Germans, all of which were friendlies.
Trivia: The last three times Germany won their first two matches at a European Championship, they went on to win the trophy.
Odds: Denmark (6.00), Germany (1.72) and the draw (3.40) are on offer with bet365, while man of the moment Gomez is 5.50 to be first goalscorer.
Prediction: Germany were much more assured in their second match than their first, and rarely looked flustered even after Netherlands had pulled a goal back. With their passing clicking into gear, they should get more than the point they need here.
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